COVID-19 update: Cases rising, more vaccines administered

Published 3:04 pm Thursday, January 7, 2021

: This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. In this view, the protein particles E, S, and M, also located on the outer surface of the particle, have all been labeled as well. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

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Across northeastern North Carolina, the state and nation, new cases of COVID-19 are rapidly rising.

Statewide – On Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, North Carolina reported 5,285 new lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus. The state’s positivity rate is 16.2%.

Some 3,781 people are hospitalized with the virus on Jan. 5. Across the state, 2,072 ICU beds are occupied with coronavirus victims. Empty but staffed ICU beds number 366 statewide.

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So far in this pandemic, 6,996 North Carolinians have died from COVID-19.

Statewide, 109,799 first doses of coronavirus vaccine have been administered as of 8:30 a.m., Jan. 5, 2021.

Dare County – Between Dec. 29 and Jan. 5, new COVID-19 cases numbered 269.

Of those new cases, 84% (226) were symptomatic and 81% (218) got the virus by direct contact with an individual or individuals who were positive for the virus.

Dare’s positivity rate is up to 14.9%. The goal is 5%.

Total cumulative COVID-19 positive cases in Dare County are 1,829. Currently, 183 active cases exist among residents of Dare County with 173 in home isolation. Ten people are hospitalized.

Another death has been recorded in Dare County; six people have died from the virus.

Dare County Health Department begins its vaccination program on Wednesday, Jan. 6.

It is currently accepting registrations for three clinics. Appointments must be registered in advance. There will not be any walk-up appointments. These clinics are only for North Carolina residents and property owners ages 75 years and older.

– Jan. 6: Baum Center, Kill Devil Hills

– Jan. 11: Parks and Recreation, Kill Devil Hills

– Jan. 16: Fessenden Center, Buxton

In Dare County, the Moderna vaccine will be used. A second shot is required at least 28 days after the first. For every vaccine shipped to Dare County, a reserve vaccination is held back at the federal level for distribution at the right time.

Dare County received 400 doses on Dec. 22; 300 doses on Dec. 28; and 200 doses on Jan. 4, 2021. The state is shifting local allocations to cover long-term care facilities. For example, Peak Resources in Nags Head will have patients and staff members vaccinated Wednesday, Jan. 6 by contract workers arranged by Walgreens which, along with CVS, holds a federal contract to administer vaccine in long-term care facilities. Some 100 doses have been allocated to Peak Resources in Nags Head.

Dare County reports 444 vaccinations as of Jan. 5. In order for the Health Department to distribute the vaccine, Dare County signed a contract with the State of North Carolina. That contract requires Dare County to provide vaccination to property owners and North Carolinians.

Hyde County – Hyde County active positive cases have increased dramatically. On Jan. 4, the county’s health department counted a cumulative total of 411 cases. Of those, 151 are active positive.

Deaths from coronavirus in Hyde County remain at five. The state dashboard indicates 63 people in Hyde County have received the first vaccine dose.

Tyrrell County – On Jan. 4, Martin-Tyrrell-Washington Health District reported that Tyrrell County’s total cumulative case number is now 187. Some 162 people have recovered. On Jan. 4, 22 people had active positive cases. Three individuals have died in the county due to coronavirus.

The Martin-Tyrrell-Washington Health District will start vaccinating those 75 years and older this week. Start the registration process by calling 252-793-3023 or register at mtwdistricthealth.org/phase-1b-group-1-registration/. Once a person has registered, district staff will call to arrange an appointment.

A dozen people in Tyrrell County have already been vaccinated according to the state’s dashboard

Camden, Currituck, Pasquotank counties – On Jan. 4, 2021, Albemarle Regional Health Services published the following case information:

Camden: 316 lab-confirmed cases, with 120 cases now active. Camden County has lost five people to the coronavirus.

Currituck: 704 total lab-confirmed cases. Some 309 cases are active. Currituck County has lost 11 people to coronavirus. Some 46 people in Currituck have been vaccinated already.

Pasquotank: 1,917 lab-confirmed cases. Active cases number 415. COVID-related deaths in the county number 52 people, an increase of nine people.